Cheesy Bread Sticks With Marinara Sauce Recipe

This recipe for Cheesy Bread Sticks With Marinara Sauce will smell so delicious when you are baking it, that it will be hard to wait!

Ingredients

Bread Sticks
1 ½ cups warm water (about 115°F)
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup non-fat dry milk
1 Tablespoon yeast
3 cups all purpose flour
½ cup melted butter (half for the bottom of the pan and half on top of the breadsticks)
8 ounces of Mozzarella cheese
Homemade Marinara Sauce
½ tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
Or 1 teaspoon basil flakes if fresh not available
one 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes, with their juices
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Directions

Cheesy Bread Sticks

Dissolve yeast in the warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy (unless using instant dry yeast, in which case proceed directly to the next step).

Add sugar, milk, and salt, and mix.

Add enough flour to form a moderately stiff dough so that it is not sticky to the touch. May need up to 1/2 more flour.

Knead the dough until smooth, 8 to 10 minutes.

Roll the dough into the size and shape of your baking pan (about 13×18-inches).

Spread half of the butter onto the bottom of the pan and then place the dough into the pan. Let rise in warm, draft-free place for 15 minutes.

Spread remaining butter on the top of the dough.

Top dough with cheese and optional toppings or leave it plain.

Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut into breadsticks and serve with marinara sauce.

Homemade Marinara Sauce

In a large saucepan or deep skillet, warm the olive oil at low heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in the basil.

Pour in the tomatoes with their juices, bring the sauce to a boil, and then add the Kosher salt. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 45 to 50 minutes. As the sauce thickens toward the end, stir in the balsamic vinegar. Remove the pan from heat.Let cool enough to dip the breadsticks into.